Bill Text: MN HF2110 | 2013-2014 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Sustainable agriculture programs and grants modified.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-26 - Author added FitzSimmons [HF2110 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2013-HF2110-Introduced.html
1.2relating to sustainable agriculture; modifying certain programs and grants;
1.3amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 17.115, subdivisions 2, 3; 17.116;
1.417.1161.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 17.115, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.7 Subd. 2. Loan criteria. (a) The shared savings loan program must provide loans
1.8for purchase of new or used machinery, urban agriculture development in cities with
1.9populations greater than 60,000 people, and installation of equipment for projects that
1.10make environmental improvements and enhance farm profitability. Eligible loan uses do
1.11not include seed, fertilizer, or fuel.
1.12(b) Loans may not exceed $40,000 per individual or organization applying for a loan
1.13and may not exceed $160,000 for loans to four or more individuals or to two or more
1.14organizations on joint projects. The loan repayment period may be up to seven years as
1.15determined by project cost and energy savings. The interest rate on the loans must not
1.16exceed six percent.
1.17(c) Loans may only be made to residents and organizations of this state engaged in
1.18farming.
1.19 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 17.115, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
1.20 Subd. 3. Awarding of loans. (a) Applications for loans must be made to the
1.21commissioner on forms prescribed by the commissioner.
1.22(b) The applications must be reviewed, ranked, and recommended by a loan review
1.23panel appointed by the commissioner. The loan review panel shall consist of two
2.1lenders with agricultural experience, two resident farmers of the state using sustainable
2.2agriculture methods, two resident farmers of the state using organic agriculture methods,
2.3a farm management specialist, two residents of the state practicing urban agriculture, a
2.4representative from a postsecondary education institution, and a chair from the department.
2.5(c) The loan review panel shall rank applications according to the following criteria:
2.6(1) realize savings to the cost of agricultural production;
2.7(2) reduce or make more efficient use of energy or inputs;
2.8(3) increase overall farm profitability; and
2.9(4) result in environmental benefits.
2.10(d) A loan application must show that the loan can be repaid by the applicant.
2.11(e) The commissioner must consider the recommendations of the loan review panel
2.12and may make loans for eligible projects.
2.13 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 17.116, is amended to read:
2.1417.116 SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE DEMONSTRATION GRANTS.
2.15 Subdivision 1. Establishment. The commissioner shall establish a grant program
2.16for sustainable agriculture methods that demonstrates best management practices,
2.17including farm input reduction or management, urban agriculture development in cities
2.18with populations greater than 60,000 people, enterprise diversification including new crops
2.19and livestock, farm energy efficiency or production, or the transfer of technologies that
2.20enhance the environment and farm profitability. The commissioner shall use the program
2.21to demonstrate and publicize the energy efficiency, environmental benefit, and profitability
2.22of sustainable agriculture techniques or systems from production through marketing,
2.23and to assist eligible organizations and individuals in qualifying urban cities address
2.24fresh food access including access to affordable organic foods to reduce food deserts, as
2.25defined by the United States Department of Agriculture, through the development of urban
2.26agriculture projects. The grants must fund research or demonstrations on farms consistent
2.27with the program objectives.
2.28 Subd. 2. Eligibility. (a) Grants may only be made to farmers, educational institutions,
2.29individuals at educational institutions, or nonprofit organizations residing or located in the
2.30state for research or demonstrations on farms in the state or organizations and individuals
2.31in qualifying urban cities that address fresh food access including access to affordable
2.32organic foods to reduce food deserts through the development of urban agriculture projects.
2.33(b) Grants may only be madefor projects that show:
2.34(1) for projects that demonstrate:
2.35(i) the ability to maximize direct or indirect energy savings or production;
3.1(2) (ii) a positive effect or reduced adverse effect on the environment; and
3.2(3) (iii) increased profitability for the individual farm by reducing costs or improving
3.3marketing opportunities.; or
3.4(2) for projects that address fresh food access including access to affordable organic
3.5foods to reduce food deserts through the development of urban agriculture projects.
3.6 Subd. 3. Awarding of grants. (a) Applications for grants must be made to the
3.7commissioner on forms prescribed by the commissioner.
3.8(b) The applications must be reviewed, ranked, and recommended by a technical
3.9review panel appointed by the commissioner. The technical review panel shall consist of a
3.10soil scientist, an agronomist, a representative from a postsecondary educational institution,
3.11an agricultural marketing specialist, two resident farmers of the state using sustainable
3.12agriculture methods, two resident farmers of the state using organic agriculture methods,
3.13two residents of the state practicing urban agriculture, and a chair from the department.
3.14(c) The technical review panel shall rank applications according to the following
3.15criteria:
3.16(1) direct or indirect energy savings or production;
3.17(2) environmental benefit;
3.18(3) farm profitability;
3.19(4) the number of farms able to apply the techniques or the technology proposed;
3.20(5) the effectiveness of the project as a demonstration;
3.21(6) the immediate transferability of the project to farms;and
3.22(7) the ability of the project to accomplish its goals.;
3.23(8) the ability to address fresh food access including access to affordable organic
3.24foods to improve both local and regional food security through the development of urban
3.25agriculture projects; and
3.26(9) the ability to address health disparities related to food access.
3.27(d) The commissioner shall consider the recommendations of the technical review
3.28panel and may award grants for eligible projects. Priority must be given to applicants who
3.29are farmers or groups of farmers.
3.30(e) Grants for eligible projects may not exceed $25,000 unless the portion above
3.31$25,000 is matched on an equal basis by the applicant's cash or in-kind land use
3.32contribution. Grant funding of projects may not exceed $50,000 under this section, but
3.33applicants may utilize other funding sources. A portion of each grant must be targeted for
3.34public information activities of the project.
4.1(f) A project may continue for up to three years. Multiyear projects must be
4.2reevaluated by the technical review panel and the commissioner before second or third
4.3year funding is approved. A project is limited to one grant for its funding.
4.4 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 17.1161, is amended to read:
4.517.1161 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF MINNESOTA
4.6AGRICULTURE PROGRAM.
4.7 Subdivision 1. Establishment; framework. The Minnesota Institute for Sustainable
4.8Agriculture shall establish a framework for participatory problem-solving in local
4.9communities throughout rural and urban Minnesota that will strengthen the connection
4.10between local communities, identified food deserts, as defined by the United States
4.11Department of Agriculture, and deficient affordable fresh and organic food access zones in
4.12urban communities, regions, and the land-grant university; invest research, education, and
4.13outreach dollars to meet agreed-upon local and regional needs; and foster the development
4.14of integrated agricultural systems that are profitable, enhance environmental quality, and
4.15support healthy rural and urban communities. The framework must include regional,
4.16community-controlled agricultural sustainable development centers located at University
4.17of Minnesota regional experiment stations. At each center, the Minnesota Institute for
4.18Sustainable Agriculture shall facilitate the development of a leadership team comprised
4.19of farmers, researchers, public agencies, and other local community representatives to
4.20identify problems, chart trends in problems over time, and develop an understanding of
4.21the agricultural system as a whole, common goals for development of the system, and
4.22five-year action plans to address those goals. The Minnesota Institute for Sustainable
4.23Agriculture shall appoint a statewide oversight group of persons with a thorough
4.24knowledge of agriculture-related issues, including farmers' organizations, commodity
4.25groups, rural economic development groups, the Department of Agriculture and other
4.26public agencies, academic personnel, the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, the
4.27Minnesota Extension Service, and representatives from each regional leadership team.
4.28The oversight group shall review and comment on the regional centers' action plans and
4.29integrate them into a comprehensive agenda for long-term basic and applied research,
4.30education, and outreach activities. The oversight group shall use this agenda to make
4.31recommendations on the allocation of funds for regional or statewide use. The Minnesota
4.32Institute for Sustainable Agriculture board of directors shall review and give final approval
4.33of the allocation of funds after consultation with the dean of the College of Agricultural,
4.34Food, and Environmental Sciences at the University of Minnesota.
5.1 Subd. 2. Program areas. Long-term research and education activities must be
5.2focused infour five program areas:
5.3(1) sustainable cropping systems;
5.4(2) development of markets and agriculture-related businesses;
5.5(3) sustainable livestock systems;and
5.6(4) improving access to high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables and increasing local
5.7food security in very low to moderate income communities; and
5.8(5) intergenerational transfer in agriculture.
1.3amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 17.115, subdivisions 2, 3; 17.116;
1.417.1161.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 17.115, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.7 Subd. 2. Loan criteria. (a) The shared savings loan program must provide loans
1.8for purchase of new or used machinery, urban agriculture development in cities with
1.9populations greater than 60,000 people, and installation of equipment for projects that
1.10make environmental improvements and enhance farm profitability. Eligible loan uses do
1.11not include seed, fertilizer, or fuel.
1.12(b) Loans may not exceed $40,000 per individual or organization applying for a loan
1.13and may not exceed $160,000 for loans to four or more individuals or to two or more
1.14organizations on joint projects. The loan repayment period may be up to seven years as
1.15determined by project cost and energy savings. The interest rate on the loans must not
1.16exceed six percent.
1.17(c) Loans may only be made to residents and organizations of this state engaged in
1.18farming.
1.19 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 17.115, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
1.20 Subd. 3. Awarding of loans. (a) Applications for loans must be made to the
1.21commissioner on forms prescribed by the commissioner.
1.22(b) The applications must be reviewed, ranked, and recommended by a loan review
1.23panel appointed by the commissioner. The loan review panel shall consist of two
2.1lenders with agricultural experience, two resident farmers of the state using sustainable
2.2agriculture methods, two resident farmers of the state using organic agriculture methods,
2.3a farm management specialist, two residents of the state practicing urban agriculture, a
2.4representative from a postsecondary education institution, and a chair from the department.
2.5(c) The loan review panel shall rank applications according to the following criteria:
2.6(1) realize savings to the cost of agricultural production;
2.7(2) reduce or make more efficient use of energy or inputs;
2.8(3) increase overall farm profitability; and
2.9(4) result in environmental benefits.
2.10(d) A loan application must show that the loan can be repaid by the applicant.
2.11(e) The commissioner must consider the recommendations of the loan review panel
2.12and may make loans for eligible projects.
2.13 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 17.116, is amended to read:
2.1417.116 SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE DEMONSTRATION GRANTS.
2.15 Subdivision 1. Establishment. The commissioner shall establish a grant program
2.16for sustainable agriculture methods that demonstrates best management practices,
2.17including farm input reduction or management, urban agriculture development in cities
2.18with populations greater than 60,000 people, enterprise diversification including new crops
2.19and livestock, farm energy efficiency or production, or the transfer of technologies that
2.20enhance the environment and farm profitability. The commissioner shall use the program
2.21to demonstrate and publicize the energy efficiency, environmental benefit, and profitability
2.22of sustainable agriculture techniques or systems from production through marketing,
2.23and to assist eligible organizations and individuals in qualifying urban cities address
2.24fresh food access including access to affordable organic foods to reduce food deserts, as
2.25defined by the United States Department of Agriculture, through the development of urban
2.26agriculture projects. The grants must fund research or demonstrations on farms consistent
2.27with the program objectives.
2.28 Subd. 2. Eligibility. (a) Grants may only be made to farmers, educational institutions,
2.29individuals at educational institutions, or nonprofit organizations residing or located in the
2.30state for research or demonstrations on farms in the state or organizations and individuals
2.31in qualifying urban cities that address fresh food access including access to affordable
2.32organic foods to reduce food deserts through the development of urban agriculture projects.
2.33(b) Grants may only be made
2.34(1) for projects that demonstrate:
2.35(i) the ability to maximize direct or indirect energy savings or production;
3.1
3.2
3.3marketing opportunities
3.4(2) for projects that address fresh food access including access to affordable organic
3.5foods to reduce food deserts through the development of urban agriculture projects.
3.6 Subd. 3. Awarding of grants. (a) Applications for grants must be made to the
3.7commissioner on forms prescribed by the commissioner.
3.8(b) The applications must be reviewed, ranked, and recommended by a technical
3.9review panel appointed by the commissioner. The technical review panel shall consist of a
3.10soil scientist, an agronomist, a representative from a postsecondary educational institution,
3.11an agricultural marketing specialist, two resident farmers of the state using sustainable
3.12agriculture methods, two resident farmers of the state using organic agriculture methods,
3.13two residents of the state practicing urban agriculture, and a chair from the department.
3.14(c) The technical review panel shall rank applications according to the following
3.15criteria:
3.16(1) direct or indirect energy savings or production;
3.17(2) environmental benefit;
3.18(3) farm profitability;
3.19(4) the number of farms able to apply the techniques or the technology proposed;
3.20(5) the effectiveness of the project as a demonstration;
3.21(6) the immediate transferability of the project to farms;
3.22(7) the ability of the project to accomplish its goals
3.23(8) the ability to address fresh food access including access to affordable organic
3.24foods to improve both local and regional food security through the development of urban
3.25agriculture projects; and
3.26(9) the ability to address health disparities related to food access.
3.27(d) The commissioner shall consider the recommendations of the technical review
3.28panel and may award grants for eligible projects. Priority must be given to applicants who
3.29are farmers or groups of farmers.
3.30(e) Grants for eligible projects may not exceed $25,000 unless the portion above
3.31$25,000 is matched on an equal basis by the applicant's cash or in-kind land use
3.32contribution. Grant funding of projects may not exceed $50,000 under this section, but
3.33applicants may utilize other funding sources. A portion of each grant must be targeted for
3.34public information activities of the project.
4.1(f) A project may continue for up to three years. Multiyear projects must be
4.2reevaluated by the technical review panel and the commissioner before second or third
4.3year funding is approved. A project is limited to one grant for its funding.
4.4 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 17.1161, is amended to read:
4.517.1161 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF MINNESOTA
4.6AGRICULTURE PROGRAM.
4.7 Subdivision 1. Establishment; framework. The Minnesota Institute for Sustainable
4.8Agriculture shall establish a framework for participatory problem-solving in local
4.9communities throughout rural and urban Minnesota that will strengthen the connection
4.10between local communities, identified food deserts, as defined by the United States
4.11Department of Agriculture, and deficient affordable fresh and organic food access zones in
4.12urban communities, regions, and the land-grant university; invest research, education, and
4.13outreach dollars to meet agreed-upon local and regional needs; and foster the development
4.14of integrated agricultural systems that are profitable, enhance environmental quality, and
4.15support healthy rural and urban communities. The framework must include regional,
4.16community-controlled agricultural sustainable development centers located at University
4.17of Minnesota regional experiment stations. At each center, the Minnesota Institute for
4.18Sustainable Agriculture shall facilitate the development of a leadership team comprised
4.19of farmers, researchers, public agencies, and other local community representatives to
4.20identify problems, chart trends in problems over time, and develop an understanding of
4.21the agricultural system as a whole, common goals for development of the system, and
4.22five-year action plans to address those goals. The Minnesota Institute for Sustainable
4.23Agriculture shall appoint a statewide oversight group of persons with a thorough
4.24knowledge of agriculture-related issues, including farmers' organizations, commodity
4.25groups, rural economic development groups, the Department of Agriculture and other
4.26public agencies, academic personnel, the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, the
4.27Minnesota Extension Service, and representatives from each regional leadership team.
4.28The oversight group shall review and comment on the regional centers' action plans and
4.29integrate them into a comprehensive agenda for long-term basic and applied research,
4.30education, and outreach activities. The oversight group shall use this agenda to make
4.31recommendations on the allocation of funds for regional or statewide use. The Minnesota
4.32Institute for Sustainable Agriculture board of directors shall review and give final approval
4.33of the allocation of funds after consultation with the dean of the College of Agricultural,
4.34Food, and Environmental Sciences at the University of Minnesota.
5.1 Subd. 2. Program areas. Long-term research and education activities must be
5.2focused in
5.3(1) sustainable cropping systems;
5.4(2) development of markets and agriculture-related businesses;
5.5(3) sustainable livestock systems;
5.6(4) improving access to high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables and increasing local
5.7food security in very low to moderate income communities; and
5.8(5) intergenerational transfer in agriculture.
